December 20, 2016

Jacob Valov's Week 16 tiered rankings & streamers for all NFL kickers. Fantasy football starts, sits, and waiver wire pickups for week fourteen of the 2016 season.

It’s Week 16 and it’s once again time for kicker rankings! This list is here to help all of us figure out who’s gonna kick for our teams this week, and make those streaming or start/sit decisions easier.

While finding a good FLEX and starting the right QB are crucial to winning your matchups, anyone who’s worth their salt will tell you the true X-factor in fantasy matchups can be the kicker.

Picking the right guy could net you 10 extra points any given Sunday, clinching you a victory, frustrating your opponents, and making you seem like a god amongst men - for you have proven to be the true Prophet of Special Teams. So buckle up buckaroos, things are bound to get wild as we dive into the mysterious world of kicker rankings...

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 16 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - CUTS

Week 16 Kickers To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Tier 1 NFL Kickers

1. Wil Lutz (vs TB)
2. Dan Bailey (vs DET)
3. Cairo Santos (vs DEN)
4. Adam Vinatieri (@ OAK)
5. Steven Hauschka (vs ARI)

This is it. With the championship on the line, the RotoBaller Kicker Rankings gods have delivered unto you a savior-- Wil Lutz. That’s right kids, while he may not be who you expected (Justin Tucker anyone?), I have seen the future and the future looks like Wil Lutz crushing 50-yarders all game long. I’m not asking for your agreement, but your trust, for I only wish to lead you to the promised land of bringing home the trophy. (Note: Terms and Conditions may apply; fantasy is a crapshoot not a science, I cannot actually see the future; results may vary)

Even after botching two kicks early in the game, Dan Bailey still came through with as strong a fantasy performance as you could ask for. It’s pretty simple-- if a guy still puts up major points even with some misses sprinkled in, he’s an elite play. Promote the Bootenant to Commander Dan and let him do his thing.

Tier 2 NFL Kickers

6. Josh Lambo (@ CLE)
7. Stephen Gostkowski (vs NYJ)
8. Sebastian Janikowski (vs IND)
9. Justin Tucker (@ PIT)
10. Mason Crosby (vs MIN)
11. Matt Bryant (@ CAR)

While Josh Lambo had an inexcusable missed XP against Oakland on Sunday, he’s playing Cleveland and that’s just plain-and-simple conducive to scoring. Start up RotoBaller Kicker Rankings’ favorite son one more time for old times’ sake and let him take you to the ‘ship.

Sebastian Janikowski continues to creep up this list as, ever since Derek Carr’s finger injury, the Raiders have moved to exclusively shotgun/pistol formations on offense, hurting their red zone performance. Janikowski has moved past the bout of yips he caught around midseason and has been in perfect form since. Against a leaky Indy D at home, Janikowski is as prime a kicker as any to do some damage.

Tier 3 NFL Kickers

12. Dustin Hopkins (@ CHI)
13. Dan Carpenter (vs MIA)
14. Caleb Sturgis (vs NYG)
15. Ryan Succop (@ JAX)

Jacksonville has been a hot mess all season, and they’ve only now finally gotten rid of Gus Bradley, praise the Lord. While interim coaches usually provide a nice spark to teams their first two games in the head coaching position, Tennessee isn’t the team they’re going to do it against. Fresh off whooping the Broncos and Chiefs back-to-back, the Titans are battle tested and aren’t gonna take any crap from the Jags. They’ll put up points with regularity, but aren’t going to get as many field goal opportunities as they may usually. Ryan Succop is still solid as ever, but isn’t the high ceiling play you may want.

Tier 4 NFL Kickers

16. Phil Dawson (@ LA)
17. Roberto Aguayo (@ NO)
18. Chandler Catanzaro (@ SEA)
19. Chris Boswell (vs BAL)
20. Graham Gano (vs ATL)

Phil Dawson out of the bottom tier??? Why, yes, dear reader, ‘ol Phil has finally seen the light of day as two of the most pitiful teams in the league look to square off in what should be an absolute dumpster fire of a game. Look -- SOMEBODY has to score and win the game, and the Rams’ offense could make a flaming dumpster fire look chilly. The Niners are simply more competent and will take advantage, leading to Dawson points.

Tier 5 NFL Kickers

21. Matt Prater (@ DAL)
22. Jason Myers (vs TEN)
23. Robbie Gould (@ PHI)
24. Brandon McManus (@ KC)